Roger Guillemin, Nobel Prize-Winning Physician and Hormone Research Pioneer, Dies at 100

Roger Guillemin, a distinguished Nobel Prize-winning physician, passed away at the age of 100 at a senior-living facility in Del Mar, Calif. Guillemin dedicated his career to the revolutionary field of neuroendocrinology and made groundbreaking discoveries that significantly influenced the development of the birth control pill and treatments for various cancers. His daughter, Chantal Guillemin, confirmed his death, although the specific cause remains unknown.

Born in France and later settling in the United States, Guillemin played a pivotal role in establishing neuroendocrinology as a scientific discipline. He embarked on years of meticulous experimentation in pursuit of elusive brain secretions called neurohormones, whose existence was initially doubted by many in the scientific community. Guillemin’s relentless dedication led to his affiliation with the Salk Institute in San Diego and his joint receipt of the 1977 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine alongside his co-laureates, Rosalyn Sussman Yalow and Andrew V. Schally.

A major highlight of Guillemin’s career was his 21-year-long scientific rivalry with Andrew V. Schally. Their intensive competition, marked by secretive behavior, sample withholding, and mutual mockery, captivated the scientific community. Dubbed “competition in a good sense” by Guillemin and characterized as “vicious attacks and bitter retaliation” by Schally, their contest eventually earned them shared recognition through the Nobel Prize. Despite their rivalry, all three laureates were pivotal to the development of neuroendocrinology.

Guillemin, Schally, and Yalow challenged the prevailing belief that the brain solely governed human thought and emotions by proposing the revolutionary idea that the brain released chemical signals, known as hormones, to control the body’s endocrine system. Their discoveries broadened the understanding of the intricate link between body and mind. Neuroendocrinology’s profound implications transcended traditional medical boundaries, generating vital insights for the development of various treatments for endocrine-related disorders.

Uncovering the existence of neurohormones posed significant technical challenges. Guillemin dedicated himself passionately to tackling this Herculean task. After years of strenuous research, Guillemin successfully isolated and identified hormones such as corticotropin-releasing factor, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. These groundbreaking discoveries played a transformative role in medicine, advancing treatments for conditions such as stress reactions, thyroid disorders, and ovarian and testicular functionality.

Guillemin’s scientific contributions revolutionized the understanding of hormone-related conditions and shaped clinical practice. His discoveries not only facilitated the development of the birth control pill and hormonal therapies for cancer, including prostate cancer, but also spurred advancements in the treatment of various endocrine-related disorders. Additionally, the hormone somatostatin, discovered by Guillemin, served as the foundation for the nausea drug Zofran and supported the development of therapies inhibiting the growth of hormone-responsive tumors. His multidisciplinary approach and collaborative spirit fostered scientific breakthroughs that continue to enrich the field of medicine.